Injured diver Wendy not giving up the ghost

PETALING JAYA: Diver Wendy Ng Yan Yee turned 21 yesterday but it was a bittersweet occasion for the birthday girl.

The London Olympian is currently nursing a left shoulder injury sustained three weeks ago.

And Wendy is in a race against time to be fit for two upcoming major assignments – FINA Diving World Cup in Shanghai (July 15-20) and Glasgow Commonwealth Games (July 23-Aug 3).

Wendy, a three-time SEA Games gold medallist, could not hide her frustration over the untimely mishap.

“If I can have one birthday wish granted right now, I hope the pain on my left shoulder would go away,” said Wendy, who is currently with the diving squad in Guangzhou, China, for a six-week training stint.

“I injured my shoulder three weeks ago when I attempted a dive and it forced me to rest for about a week. There is still no sign of improvement.

“I’m currently relying on acupuncture and painkillers for relief.

“I will still compete in the World Cup and Commonwealth Games. I can still dive, it’s just that I won’t be 100% fit. But there’s no way I’m giving up, I’ll get through this tough times.”

Wendy has shown tremendous improvement after the 2012 London Olympics.

She reached the semi-final (top-18) stage in the 3m springboard individual event at last year’s World Championships in Barcelona.

In the springboard synchro discipline, Wendy who partnered Cheong Jun Hoong, secured three bronze medals in their World Series debut.

The pair continued their fine form in the prestigious series this year with one bronze medal at the Moscow leg and two fourth-placing finishes in Dubai and Windsor, Canada.